James richardson



(No Model.)

J. RICHARDSON.

4 FLYING MACHINE. No. 596,231

Patented Dec. .28, 1897.

' INVENTOR TTORNEY WlTNESSES: ffl MJ. 6%

Nrrs STATES i ATEN'I rrrc JAMES RICHARDSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORTO HIMSELF AND FRANK E. HEATH,

OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,231, dated December28, 1897.

Application filed October 3 1 8 9 6.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Machinery,

- of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

This invention relates to flying-machines, the primary object being toprovide means for maintaining the equilibrium of such machines when inthe air. It is well known that such a device is a great desideratum inthe science of aerial navigation and that the lack of an efficientdevice for performing this function has been one of the greatestobstaclesin the way of successful flight. The great difficulty inpreserving equilibrium is due mainly to the variability of air-currentsin direction and force. If an element can be introduced in the machinethat will resist a change in its level or plane to such an extent as tomaintain equilibrium or to allow time for making the necessary shiftingof ballast, such an element will constitute what may be regarded as themissing link in flying machinery. The resistance which a rotating bodyoffers to any change in the plane of its rotation is best illustrated inthe fly-wheel,in which the weight is chiefly in the rim. For this reasonI make a fly-wheel, with means for rotating it, the fundamental elementin the flying-machine, and I believe that such a rotating fly-wheeloffers the best, if not the only, purely mechan-' ical means at presentattainable for maintaining automatically the equilibrium of aflyingmachine.

Although up to the present time purely mechanical flight from apractical standpoint has not been accomplished, it is evident from theresult of recent experiments of prominent scientists in this art thatflight by purely mechanical means will very soon be achieved.

It is the object of my invention to provide a means for maintainingautomatically the equilibrium of a flying-machine of any character; butin order to combine my invention with what is at present understood tobe an operative flying-machine I have herein described it in connectionwith that class of flyin g-machines which utilize a gas-field; but in-Serial No. 607,747. (No model.)

asmuch as the invention per se has nothing whatever to do with thelifting, propelling, or steering apparatus of the machine, but is merelya means for maintaining the equilibrium of any machine capableofsustaining itself in the air, it is obvious that my invention is notlimited to amachinethat comprehends a gas-field, but will be applicableto a purely mechanical flying-machine whenever such is produced.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, Figure1 is a side elevation of the flying-machine equipped with myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a plan of the bottom of the machine with the carremoved.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A represents a combinedstorage-tank and frame. It is a tubular structure in the form of a ringand adapted to receive air or gas under pressure, to be utilized as apower for propelling and steering the machine. This frame supportsbeneath it a basket or car B for passengers or freight, to which it isconnected by suitable braces and supports 12. To the top of the frame isrigidly attached a closed balloon 0, preferably of the shape shown andadapted to receive a gas lighter than the atmosphere. In the middle ofthe frame A is placed a short vertical shaft a, upon which is rigidlyfixed a wheel a, having a heavy rim and constructed like an ordinarybalance-wheel. c is a small air or gas engine which is supposed toreceive its power from rotated by an air or gas engine d, supplied withpower from tank A.

At 6 is a steering-propeller which by rotating it in one or the otherdirection will throw the end of the machine to the right or left.

The balance-wheel a is the feature constituting my invention. This whenin rotation resists any force that tends to swerve, tilt, or otherwisethrow out of balance the machine, and therefore furnishes a means formaintaining equilibrium. The wheel should be of comparatively largediameter and may be set in a vertical plane or at an angle. It is to bedriven constantly during flight.

Two or more balance-wheels may be used and advantage taken of theaggregate influence.

I have shown the fly-wheel as driven by an independent engine 0, and itis essential for practical work that it should be so driven,

or at all events by power independently applied. The fly-wheel shouldnot be on the same shaft with a propeller, and the construction shouldbe such that the fly-wheel may be kept in motion while the ship ispoised in air.

JAMES RICHARDSON.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, WM. A. RosENBAUM.

